Control means for electrically driven miniature vehicle



act. 28, 1969 L. H. Mcnos gY ETAL 7 3,474,567 CONTROL MEANS FORELECTRIC/ALLY DRIVEN MINIATURE VEHICLE Filed May 12, 1967 54 25 /&

INVENTORfi WA AA/A {M 644 United States Patent 3,474,567 CONTROL MEANSFOR ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN MINIATURE VEHICLE Leonard H. McRoskey and JohnW. McRoskey, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Republic Tool &Manufacturing Corporation, a corporation of California Filed May 12,1967, Ser. No. 638,013 Int. Cl. A63h 33/ 26 US. Cl. 46-243 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Control for a battery powered motor drivenminiature vehicle wherein the motor circuit is completed through aconnection bar having one end engaged with a terminal of the motor and adeflected portion at its other end spring urged into contact with oneterminal of the battery. The motor circuit is opened by a movableinsulating cam member which can be positioned between the spring portionand the battery terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally tominiature self-powered vehicles such as toy automobiles and the like,and is concerned particularly with a novel electrical connecting andswitching control means for the driving motor.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to utilize a separate switch unitwhich had to be connected into the motor control circuit by means ofseparate wire connections which had to be soldered to the switchterminals, battery terminals and motor connection terminals. Thisrequired assembly personnel, and the use of tools which materiallycontributed to the cost of production and multiplied the probable pointsin the assembly which might fail or malfunction.

In the present invention, the control and connection elements have beengreatly simplified and reduced in number, the construction being suchthat the parts may be assembled quickly and without the use of tools onthe vehicle chassis. This is primarily accomplished through the use of aunique connection bar having flexible spring end contacts, one of thecontacts bearing against a motor terminal, and the other making pressureengagement with a terminal of the battery. The associated connection barcontact and battery terminal normally cooperate to provide switchingcontacts which are arranged to be selectively actuated to opened andclosed positions by means of a manually operable camming barrier ofinsulating material. In the arrangement of the present invention, theparts and required assembly personnel are materially reduced, andseparate switch units, as such eliminated. Further it is not necessaryto provide separate connection wires which have to be soldered orotherwise secured and connected to the different terminals. A materialsaving and more economical production is thus effected, while at thesame time producing an arrangement in which the possibility of failureand malfunction is reduced to a minimum in comparison with the prior artarrangements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally tocontrol With the foregoing in mind, it is one object of the hereindescribed invention to provide a switch structure having a minimum ofparts and assembly operations, which is susceptible of a long operatinglife, which will be free of failures, and which may be quickly assembledand connected into an energizing control circuit without the use oftools.

It is a further object to provide a unique physical arrangement in aself-powered miniature vehicle, wherein the driving motor, battery andcontrol switch can be interconnected without the use of tools, and inwhich the battery terminal is utilized as one of the switch contacts.

Another object is to provide a unique circuit connection bar between oneof the motor terminals and a battery terminal in which one end of theconnection bar is cooperatively associated with one terminal of thebattery in such a way that relatively movable contacts are formed whichare actuatable to open and closed positions to control the operation ofthe electric motor.

Still another object is to provide as an article of manufacture anelectric connection bar of unitary construction having a body portion bywhich it is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle chassis, and extensionsfor making pressural contacts with a motor terminal and a batteryterminal, the extension contacting the battery terminal being operableas a switch member by which the bar is con nected and disconnected withrespect to the battery terminal.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out inthe following part of the specification, wherein detailed description isfor the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placinglimitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the accompanyingdrawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a miniature self-powered vehicle embodying thefeatures of the herein described invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, at the driving end ofthe chassis, and showing details of the motor supporting bracket andconnector for one terminal of the motor;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the chassis, takensubstantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the vehicle with cutaway portionsshown features of construction;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view at the forward end of the chassis,taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the connector bar as embodied in theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more specifically tothe drawings, for illustrative purposes, the invention is shown as beingincorporated into a miniature vehicle of the self-propelled type. Morespecifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the miniature vehicle embodies anelongate chassis frame structure 10 of substantially rectangularconfiguration. The frame structure may be constructed of any suitablematerial, but is preferably molded from a plastic, the frame structurebeing provided at its rear end with rotatably mounted driving wheels1111, and at its forward end with wheels 12-12.

An electric driving motor 13 is mounted at the rear end of the framestructure with its driving shaft 14 extending transversely of thevehicle and being fitted with a sleeve 15 for making frictionalengagement with the adjacent driving wheel 11.

The motor is supported within a motor mounting bracket 16 which forms acradle within which the motor is removably supported in operatingposition. The bracket is constructed of a current carrying metal such ascopper or other suitable material and is laterally provided with sidefingers 1717 for engaging one end of the motor frame on opposite sidesof the driving shaft, while a finger 18 on the opposite side engages anadjacent connection terminal 19 having its end seated in an opening 20.The mounting bracket is also provided with a forward upstandingextension 21 having a struck up integral finger portion 22 forengagement with an adjacent terminal, in this case the casing of abattery 23 which provides the source of electrical energy for drivingthe electric motor.

The battery 23 is supported so as to extend lengthwise along the axis ofthe chassis frame structure in a receptacle formed by downwardly curvedinwardly extending side wings 24 and 25, these wings having theirconfronting edges in spaced apart relation. At the forward end of thereceptacle, the central electrode of the battery provides a batteryterminal 26 which projects beyond this end of the receptacle forcooperative association with a switching and connecting arrangement, aswill hereinafter be more fully described, for controlling the supply ofenergy to the motor 13.

An electrical connection is established between the battery terminal 26and the other motor terminal connection 27 by means of a conductor-bar28 of the configuration shown in FIG. 6. This connection bar isfabricated from a flat strip of suitable conducting material, such ascopper. The bar comprises a substantially straight body portion 29 whichis provided at its opposite ends with integrally formed end extensions30 and 31 which provide flexible contacts. The extension 30 is offsetrelative to the body portion 29 to define an abutment edge 32. Theextension 30, it will be observed, lies substantially in the same planeas the body portion 29. The extension 31 is deflected at substantiallyright angle to the body portion, and where it joins the body portion isprovided with an abutment edge 33. The outermost free end of theextension 31 terminates in an angular portion 31a. As thus arranged, itwill be apparent that the extension 30 is deflectable laterally withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the body portion 29, while extension31 is deflectable in a direction substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the body portion.

The connection bar as described above is arranged for mounting at theside of the battery 23 so as to extend longitudinally along the side ofthe chassis frame structure 10. This is accomplished by providing anupwardly opening groove 34 at the side of the chassis frame. As bestshown in FIG. 1, the groove 34 has end walls 35 and 36 at its oppositeends. Adjacent the end wall 35 is an upstanding projection 37 which withthe end wall 35 are positioned on opposite sides of an opening 38through which the connector bar is adapted to extend. At the oppositeend of the groove 34, an upstanding projection 39 similarly cooperateswith the end wall 36 on opposite sides of an opening 40 through whichthis end of the connector bar may extend. Between the projections 37 and39, there is a projection 41 on the opposite side of the groove. Theprojections 37, 39 and 41 serve to laterally retain the body portion ofthe connector bar within the groove. Moreover, it will be observed thatwhen the connector bar is slightly fixed and positioned in the groovewith the end portions extending through the openings 38 and 40, theconnector bar will be forcefully retained due to its flexure. As thuspositioned, the abutment edges 32 and 33 engage the end portions of thegroove 34 and and thus anchor the connection bar against longitudinalshifting movement.

As best shown in FIG. 4, when mounted as explained above, the connectionbar will have its extension 30 in contact engagement with the terminalconnection 27 of the motor. At the other end, the body portion adjacentthe juncture of extension 31 bears against a post 42 which 4 serves tofurther retain this end of the conductor bar in its mounted positionagainst deflection. As thus mounted, however, it will be seen that theextension 31 will have its end portion 31a resiliently urged intocontact engagement with the battery terminal 26. The connector barprovides a unique structure which combines into a single unit electricalconnecting media and a switch contact for controlling energization ofthe driving motor.

The actuating means for moving the extension 31 so as to provide acontrol switching function will now be described. Adjacent the batteryterminal 26, the underlying frame structure, as shown in FIG. 5, isconstructed with spaced walls 43 and 44 which define an internal cavity45. The frame structure is so arranged that the terminal 26 will extendinto a slot 46 provided in the Wall 43. This wall also serves as asupport for the post 42.

For controlling actuation of the extension 31 as a switch contact, thereis provided an actuator which comprises a slide member 47 supported inthe internal cavity 45 for rectilinear movement. This slide membercarries an upper projection 48 which extends through the slot 46 in thewall 43. The projection 48 has an edge 49 so that this projection willserve as a camming barrier which can be moved from its full lineposition as shown in FIG. 1 to a phantom line position between andseparating the contact 31a and the battery terminal 26. Upon return ofthe projection 48 to the full line position, the contact will again beforcefully urged into engagement with the battery terminal. Theprojection 48 is of non-conducting material and may be constructed of asuitable plastic or insulation either separately or integrally with theslide member 47.

The slide member 47 also has a downwardly extending projection 50 whichextends through a guide slot 51 in the wall 44. The projection '50provides a digitally engageable handle for manually shifting the slidemember during operation of the switch.

From the foregoing description and drawings, it will be clearly evidentthat the delineated objects of the invention will be accomplished.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in th artwithout departing from the scope of our invention, and, hence we do notwish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned.

We claim:

1. In a miniature vehicle, the combination comprising:

(a) an electric driving motor;

(b) a supporting structure for said motor, said structure having aportion for receiving and supporting a battery;

(0) circuit means for energizing said motor from said battery includinga spring contact carried by said supporting structure, said springcontact being normally urged into engagement with an electrical terminalof said battery; and

(d) means for moving said contact including a camming barrier ofnon-conducting material supported for movement into and out of aposition between said contact and terminal, whereby with the barrierpositioned between said contact and terminal said motor circuit meanswill be interrupted.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the supportingstructure comprises a chassis having a receptacle for receiving saidbattery in a position such that an electrical terminal on said batteryis positioned adjacent one of said receptacle; and including means atsaid one end of said receptacle for guiding said camming barrierrectilinearly into and out of said position between said contact andsaid terminal.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said spring contact isintegrally formed at one end of an electric conducting element extendinglongitudinally of said chassis, and having electrical connection at itsother end with a terminal of said motor.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein said driving electricmotor is positioned at the opposite end of said receptacle and hasanother terminal having electrical circuit connection with anotherterminal of said battery at this end of the receptacle; and saidconducting element being formed from a fiat strip material and mountedin an upstanding edgewise position.

5. In a miniature vehicle:

(a) a chassis frame structure having an inter-end portion for receivinga battery into a position with its axis extending lengthwise of saidframe structure;

(b) an electric motor supported at one end of the battery receivingportion, said motor having a pair of electrical energizing terminals,one of which is in electrical connection with an adjacent terminal of abattery positioned in the battery receiving portion;

(c) electrical conducting means extending lengthwise of said framestructure, said means having a fiat spring contact portion adjacent themotor electrically in connection with the other motor terminal,

' LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examinerand said means also having a fiat spring contact portion adjacent theother end of the battery having a disengaged position and an engagedposition in which latter position said spring contact portion is springurged into engagement with the electrical terminal on this end of thebattery;

(d) and manually operable means for moving such spring urged contactportion to its disengaged position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,744,189 5/1956 Wudyka 46--228 X2,829,285 4/1958 Steiner et al. 46--243 X 3,218,757 11/1965 Bemkoe.

P0405) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3, 7 567 Dated October 28 1969 Inventor) LEONARD H. McROSKEY and JOHN w.McROSKEY It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

olumn 2, line &8, "shown" should read --show1ng-.

Column 3. 1 inc 28, "conductor" should read --connector--; line 1 angle"should read --angles--; line 6 "fixed" should read -flexed-.

Column 1, line 65, --end-- should be inserted after "one".

Column 6, line 15, "Bemkoe" should read -Benkoe--.

SIGNED AND SEALED (SEAL) WILLIAM a: gamma. Ealward M. Fletche h-Gommissioner of Paw Amati!!! Officer

